By: Linda Trice / Illustrated by: Pamela Johnson

A celebration of music and diversity.

Kenyas homework is to pick her favorite song and share it with her class. Sounds simple, but for Kenya, its anything but. With all that beautiful music in the world, how can she possibly choose? Her family and friends try to help by offering their favorite songs as choices, but its no help to Kenya. While those around her have made some great suggestions, Kenya has a hard time calling any one of them her favorite.

For inspiration, Kenya accompanies her father to the Caribbean Cultural Center where he plays music. Kenya hears music from Cuba and Trinidad, Haiti and Puerto Rico. She hears music in all different languagesFrench, English, Spanish. But still, Kenya cant decide which song she likes best. Finally, Kenya makes her decisionone that will surprise readers while inspiring them to listen to the world around them.

If you like this book, youll enjoy these:
Kenya’s Art
What We Wear
Under the Mambo Moon

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Look Inside

Author & Illustrator

Linda Trice, author

Linda Trice, Ph.D., a former elementary school teacher and Black Studies professor, is the author of many childrens works, including Charles Drew: Pioneer of Blood Plasma, a biography of the African-American surgeon who created blood banks during World War II.

Read more about Linda.

Pamela Johnson, illustrator

Pamela Johnson is the illustrator of many children’s books, including Living History Day (Harcourt), and If You Lived with the Indians of the Northwest Coast (Scholastic). She lives in Highland, California.

Read more about Pamela.

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

Though Kenya comes from a musical family, she is having trouble with her homework assignmentchoosing her favorite song. Her daddy, who plays jazz piano, takes her to the Caribbean Cultural Center, where she hears songs in several languages, dances the merengue, and makes maracas. Walking home through the park, their feet keep time, and they make up words to match the marching-band beat. She asks for her dad’s help in writing an original song. The next Monday, the students in Mrs. Garcia’s class share music and dances from their homelands. When her turn comes, with her daddy on the piano, her classmates sing along, and Kenya sings, “English, French, Spanish, too-/Music’s how I speak to you!/Doesn’t matter where you’re from-/Just sing your song and play your drum!” The illustrations, done in colored pencils and watercolor, show talented young people proud of their heritage and willing to share it with others. The final illustration is a chalkboard map of the Caribbean islands, showing how much diversity exists in places so close together. Teachers and librarians will want to share recordings of the various types of music, and some lucky listeners may have hands-on experiences with maracas, bongos, and other rhythm instruments. Kenya’s appreciation for the music around her and her loving relationship with her father make this an appealing story for most libraries.

Downloadables

Download the Cover

Details

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-57091-846-9
Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-57091-847-6

E-book PDF
ISBN: 978-1-60734-589-3

Ages: 4-8
Page count: 32
11 x 8 1/2

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